Officers and men of the 12 Brigade, Nigerian Army, have arrested 14 suspected illegal miners in Kogi State.
Eight of the suspects were arrested last week, while six others were picked up on Monday.
The State Security Adviser, Commander Jerry Omodara (rtd), disclosed this while parading the suspects. He said the eight arrested last week had been handed over to the Kogi State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and charged to court.
Omodara commended the army for its contributions to the safety of lives and property in the state.
He cautioned motor parks to be mindful of the passengers they convey, warning that any vehicle found carrying contraband items in the state would be confiscated.
READ NSCDC Burst Illegal Mining Site, Arrest 17, Impound 39 Motorcycles in Kogi
The security adviser also warned traditional rulers against harbouring illegal miners in their communities, stressing that the state means business in the fight against insecurity.
Describing illegal mining as the root cause of insecurity, Omodara said the state’s security apparatus would not allow the illicit business to thrive.
He added that the state would continue to build on its security architecture so that residents could “sleep with their two eyes closed.”
The Commandant of the Kogi Command of the NSCDC, Olumide Aletan, assured that the suspects would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
